Theory of mind

Cards (17)

  • Theory of mind
    Ability to predict others' behaviour and understand people have their own way of perceiving the world
  • ASD individuals
    • Reduced/delayed ability to recognise and understand internal mental state of other people
  • Theory of mind emerges out of skills from early development
    1. Following others' gaze
    2. Engaging in pretend play
    3. Imitating others' behaviour
  • Joint attention
    Key skill for theory of mind development
  • Most children can develop theory of mind
    Bruner - 14 months
  • Two foundations of theory of mind (Baron-Cohen)
    • Physical vs mental
    • Appearance and nature aren't the same
  • Physical vs mental
    • Thinking about holding or actually holding something
  • Appearance and nature aren't the same
    • Bath bomb that looks like cake
  • Golan test

    • Short spoken phrases to test recognition of emotional cues in vocal expression
  • Tests support validity of theory of mind deficits as a component of ASD
  • Theory of mind deficits are less accountable for non-social features (repetitive/obsessive behaviours) of ASD
  • Some adults with ASD pass Cohen/Golan test
  • 'Social stories' interventions
    Short stories that highlight social cues and perspectives in everyday situations to help kids with ASD understand unwritten rules and thought and feelings of others
  • Fletcher Watson test
    • Test on real-world application of theory of mind interventions
  • 22 randomised control trials found theory of mind developed through intervention, but was short-lived and not generalisable to other situations
  • Studies weren't blinded, so effectiveness was evaluated when they knew who had the intervention
  • Need for research tests on theory of mind interventions that lack validity